iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 14h

There's a whole genre of X posts which is like "I tried using (bsky/Threads/occasionally Mastodon) and people there are just too cringe, so I'd rather hang out in this nazi bar."

Screenshot of a tweet where the poster (redacted) said "i genuinely tried using bluesky but it just felt like this over there" with a video clip of the band Superorganism, stuffed behind the NPR Tiny Desk, playing a kinda goofy song where some of the musicians use improvised instruments like a bucket of water. The tweet has been retweeted 4.6K times and viewed 8.7 million times.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 26/09/2026

As someone who still wears a mask in a lot of situations (incl. Medical offices, shopping, and shared transit of all kinds), seeing us be the butt of jokes over and over this week has been a lot. That Boston Globe piece really turned a lot of marginalized groups into, um, clowns.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 12/09/2026

I have been terrible about promoting this, but I am in San Francisco for the NLGJA Conference and I'm on a panel this afternoon with some very smart colleagues, talking about alternative ways to get our stories out there. #NLGJA26 @soleilho.com

NlGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists, 35th National Convention.

I'm speaking at #NLGJA26! THE Future of Queer & Trans Media, Satu9/12 4-5pm. With Salgu Wissmath, PressOn Photojournalist, Solely Ho,Coyote Media Collective, Kit O'Connell, The Barbed Wire, and Luz Canela, Familia and TQLM

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 31/08/2026

For the record, I want it known that while I did break my wrist I did not chip a nail.

Kit shows off their wrist wrapped in compression bandages. But their deep pink nails are unbroken and unmarred.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 23/06/2026

Remember, my newsletter on LGBTQ Texas, Big & Bright 🏳️‍🌈⭐👏, still comes out every 2 weeks ... that means the next issue is tomorrow: thebarbedwire.com/subscribe/

Big & Bright, with a rainbow and stars, against a pink background

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 27/02/2026

Hey everyone, life has been pretty stressful and so I've been bad at updating this. But I'm still here, still rolling around Austin and writing. I've got a couple of new pieces coming out next week for @thebarbedwire.com too! Here's a little peek at what I've been up to today...

A zine called Dispatch Please Advise Tactics For Fighting The Federal Occupation of Minnesota by ICE, along with a bowl of whistles and instructional zines for using then against ICE.

Kit is a nonbinary trans femme wearing cats eye prescription sunglasses and a black and white dress with rainbow accents and white lace ties in the front. Behind them is Austin's town lake and skyline on a sunny day.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 07/01/2026

Do you get Big & Bright 🌈⭐👏, the newsletter I write for @thebarbedwire.com about LGBTQ+ life in Texas? The latest issue went out today, with a special New Year's message and lots of links. If you missed out, DM and I'll send it to you, but first you gotta subscribe: thebarbedwire.com/subscribe/

Big & Bright, decorated with a rainbow and stars, against a light blue background

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 12/12/2025

Y'all were (not) waiting on the edge of your seats so here's my music top list from Tidal. Top 10: 1. Chappell 2. Kesha 3. Marina 4. SOPHIE 5. Sarah, the Illstrumentalist 6. Princess Nokia 7. Orville Peck 8. A Giant Dog 9. Fka Twigs 10. Charli XCX

Your 2025 was a
vibrant, glitter-
soaked pop
odyssey, propelled
by Chappell
Roan's infectious
anthems and
fearlessly
exploring
everything from
experimental
electronic
soundscapes to
exhilarating punk
energy.

Queer Glam Rock Revival
Hyperpop
Defiant Punk
Experimental
Electronic
Alt-R&B
Indie Sleaze
Country Glam
Feminist Anthems
Whimsical Pop

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 05/12/2025

On Sunday I'll be covering The Big Queer Wedding Party for @thebarbedwire.com ... you should come on out if you're going to be in Austin and looking for a dose of ✨queer joy✨. 🏳️‍🌈 It's free, but you can RSVP here: bigqueerwedding.com

Love Wins Again, Let's Celebrate! The Big Queer Wedding Party, December 7, 2025 from 3:30 to 6:30pm at The Cathedral ATX. Music, community, free weddings, presented by Democrasexy, Judge Denise Hernández and noah & bri. RSVP: BigQueerWedding.com

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 01/12/2025

In addition to regular contributions to @thebarbedwire.com, I'll be writing the Big & Bright 🌈⭐👏 newsletter twice a month. It's free to subscribe and I promise to make it fun, informative, and even uplifting ... thebarbedwire.com/subscribe/

Big & Bright, decorated with a rainbow and star, against an orange background

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 01/12/2025

Substitute Fauci and Reagan with RFK and Trump, or any other ghoul working for them ... I'm grateful to live where prep is widely and cheaply accessible, but I mourn the lives lost due to the budget cuts to HIV treatment and fear for the attacks to come. We need to Act Up again.

Protesters in 1990 at the National Institute of Health with signs like "Dr. Fauci, you are killing us!" and numerous signs calling out the Ronald Reagan administration for his inaction on HIV / AIDS.

Public domain image from the Dept. Of Health and Human Services.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 01/12/2025

On World AIDS day, I'm grateful to all the elders, living and dead, who showed us how to loudly, proudly, mournfully, even joyfully Act Up! for our rights and for our lives, in the face of a state determined to let us suffer and die. Let's unleash our power, for each other and our communities.

A massive crowd protesting in the streets of New York with an Act Up! Banner in 1980. CC SA licensed image from Macmillan / Wikimedia Commons.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 26/11/2025

The third issue of Big & Bright ⭐👏🌈 newsletter, from @thebarbedwire.com ... and the first issue authored by me ... went out this morning to subscribers! I'm proud of how this issue turned out! DM me your email if you'd like a copy, or go subscribe to get the next one: thebarbedwire.com/subscribe/

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 25/11/2025

p.s. There's still time to subscribe (FREE!) and get the third Big and Bright newsletter ... which will be the first issue authored by yours truly! From here out, I'll be sharing updates on the latest in #LGBTQ+ life every 2 weeks: thebarbedwire.com/subscribe/

Big & Bright, decorated with a Pride rainbow and stars, against a pink background

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 20/11/2025

‪It's official! I'm now the Newsletter Writer and Contributor to Big & Bright from @thebarbedwire.com. I'll be creating a twice-monthly newsletter and regular stories about the highs & lows of LGBTQ+ Texas life, with an emphasis on queer joy. 🏳️‍🌈⭐👏 Subscribe for free: thebarbedwire.com/subscribe/

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 03/11/2025

Photojournalist @harmonli.bsky.social captured this "cute" photo of me, while we were on assignment for @texasobserver.org at Barking Springs. I wrote about a trans "takeover" day that took place after a brutal attack. Look for the story and photos in the Postcard feature in the Nov/Dec 2025 issue.

Standing in front of the waters of Barking Springs, Kit O'Connell is wearing a pink crop top with the word "Cute" in a sparkly, dripping heart (from Austin's Cute Nail Studio) and blue swim trunks with red crabs. Their long brown hair is a bit messy, a semicolon tattoo is visible on their left arm and they're wearing red and purple cats eye glasses.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 01/11/2025

Gorgeous lime-icing birthday cake for the Festival Beach Food Forest, covered in botanical goodness grown right in this park.

Colorful flowers and berries and seeds cover the white icing of this cake.

Three cakes covered in flowers and seeds from the Forest. Vegan, gluten free and regular dairy cakes.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 01/11/2025

Celebrating the 10 year birthday of the Festival Beach Food Forest in Austin with Blowcomotion marching band.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 06/10/2025

⁨I'll be tabling at the Lone Star Zine Fest, for the Festival Beach Food Forest, on Saturday from 1 - 4. Come say hi! This event is free and runs 12-6 both Saturday & Sunday. lonestarzinefest.org

The 2025 Lone Star Zine Fest. Oct 11 & 12 at Blue Genie. 6100 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX. Lonestarzinefest.org. A pink poster showing an obsolete desktop computer covered in post-it notes reading "100+ vendors, comics jam, door prizes, zine making,all ages, free, 12-6pm."

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 23/07/2025

Dozens gathered yesterday in Austin for a banner drop opposing the genocide in #Palestine. This is a regular gathering but the group said it was their largest turnout ever.

A composite picture showing three photos of protesters for Palestine. 1. A lone person is holding sign labeled No More Welfare For Israel. 2. Protesters hold banners on the IH35 overpass as trucks and cars go under. Banners include Arms Embargo Now! Israel is Starving Children and Wake Up Call:You Can't Sleep On Genocide. 3. The other side of the highway where people are holding more Palestinian flags and a Free Palestine banner

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 23/07/2025

Sadie Hernandez of Transgender Education Network of Texas praising the resiliency of trans Texans fighting for their rights. Says the bathroom bill encourages vigilante justice. "Trans people exist, trans people are cool, kinda cooler than others I'm sorry, and Texas leadership needs to get a grip."

Sadie Hernandez is speaking in a white cowboy hat and white dress suit.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 23/07/2025

Sen. Molly Cook, a nurse and openly bisexual, says it's appalling that Republicans are using survivors stories to attack Trans rights and make people less safe. Emphasizes there is no evidence that these bills create safety.

Sen. Molly Cook speaking at the microphone at the Texas Capitol steps, wearing a long blue dress.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 23/07/2025

Rep. Jessica Gonzalez of the House LGBT Caucus is speaking about the bathroom bill. Says that even as a cis women, she has had people police her bathroom usage and threaten her safety, even in the Texas Capitol.

Rep Jessica Gonzalez speaking at the microphone on the Capitol steps in front of women with trans rights signs. She is in a button down and pants.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 23/07/2025

"Let us pee in peace," says Wendy Davis to cheers. She is linking abortion access and trans rights and calling for bodily autonomy for all. "Our trans sisters deserve to be safe in the restroom."

Wendy Davis on a long dress speaking at a microphone in front of rows of women standing with trans rights signs, at the Texas Capitol steps

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 23/07/2025

A press conference for trans rights is starting at the Texas Capitol. The Republican party is claiming a bathroom bill is necessary to "protect women's privacy" so women are gathering to show their opposition to the bill.

A group of woke gathered in the sun on the Texas Capitol steps, holding signs saying Trans is Beautiful and shading themselves with rainbow parasols.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 29/06/2025

Rebel Cheese sells luxury vegan food products to Austin while workers say they are being paid as low as $7.25 hr.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 29/06/2025

The workers have a drummer now. Ain't no power like the power of the people, y'all. Cars honking as they go by.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 29/06/2025

Five workers were laid off shortly after Rebel Cheese workers in Austin unionized and asked for a $2 raise. They are now striking to demand reinstatement of all workers.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 29/06/2025

Honk for Workers Rights! Workers at Austin's vegan deli Rebel Cheese are on strike after multiple workers were fired for union organizing and demanding a small raise.

Protesters outside the Rebel Cheese deli with signs like Honk for Workers Rights!

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 29/06/2025

Honk for Workers Rights! Workers at Austin's vegan deli Rebel Cheese are on strike after multiple workers were fired for union organizing and demanding a small raise.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 28/06/2025

KD Drackert of Clear The Air ATX on why the Left and Democrats need to step up and support public health, masking and and Long Covid sufferers: www.patreon.com/posts/lefts-...

And then, the left and Democrats, which I know are not the same, but anybody that is not identifying as a far-right person, all of their silence and all of their refusal to mask just keeps us in this high-threat space. And I worry the louder that Trump gets with his anti-mask stuff and tying it to criminals, people are going to start becoming more violent towards the few of us that do still mask, which is why we need people to step up and join us.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 20/06/2025

Well, that's a first: my cat just hung up the phone during the middle of an interview I was conducting. Pictured, Ygritte with the paw she used to commit the crime in question:

A 'buff/dilute' orange shorthair cat laying curled, with one front paw extended, on a fluffy purple faux fur pillow.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 26/04/2025

About 40 people are outside a Tesla showroom in South Austin to protest Elon Musk. #TeslaTakedown

A protester holds a sign reading Crybaby sign with an image of a crying Elon

Protesters are lined up on two sides of a road with signs and a big Felon Elon banner.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 22/04/2025

Four potentially devastating anti-trans bills are expected to pass the Texas Senate today including a bathroom ban. TENT and other LGBTQIA groups hope to halt their movement in the House.

Trans Texan folks pose behind the microphone in the press conference room in front of the state seal and behind a sign reading Trans People Will Not Be Erased.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 22/04/2025

Maxine LaQueen and other trans Texans discussing the impact of laws attacking our rights, at the @transtexas.bsky.social press conference.

Maxine LaQueen is a trans woman drag queen in a sparkly trans pride flag dress and a huge blonde hairdo. She's speaking in front of the seal of the state of Texas at a press conference, with other trans and queer Texans behind her on the platform.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 09/04/2025

“The revolution isn’t happening if it’s not accessible.” Out today in @deceleration.bsky.social : Texas "Mask blocs" support sick, disabled and otherwise COVID-Conscious communities, providing vital mutual aid amid rampant attacks on public health. deceleration.news/texas-mask-b...

An image of a group of masked people holding a banner on an overpass reading Long COVID is a Public Health Emergency! One in the center of the group is holding their hand up in a dramatic gesture. Headline text: Texas 'Mask Blocs' Struggle to fill COVID-19 Health Gaps as Federal and State Attacks Ramp up. These volunteer and anarchist led groups are working overtime in cities around the state to keep their communities safe from COVID-19 even as Texas lawmakers debate a ban on masks and a warming planet promises more pandemics on the way.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 05/04/2025

I can't give you a blow by blow of the speeches because the crowd is just too large and I'm not close enough. So many creative signs, noisemakers, just a high energy crowd.

A sign with a cat giving the middle finger and rude caricatures of Elon, Trump etc.

Huge crowd with antifascist anti Trump signs

Velveeta Voldemort, the dork lord of destruction

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 05/04/2025

This crowd is huge, diverse and very multigenerational. I see old and young and everything in between. #HandsOff #Austin #Texas

Prominent signs in the crowd include Hands Off Education, Foxtrot Delta Tango, Hey Congress Grow A Spine.

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Kit O'Connell (🏳️‍🌈Big & Bright Queerdo👽) @kitoconnell.com · 05/04/2025

Remember this massive crowd next time you see someone saying Texas deserves fascism or suffering because it's a red state. #HandsOff #Austin #Texas

Sign held in the huge crowd: Hey Congress: The Emperor Wears No Clothes, It's Time to Tell Him.

A massive crowd of thousands in the grounds of the Texas Capitol in downtown Austin

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